Flint police, fire union heads: We can't cut any more

FLINT, Michigan — The heads of the city's police and fire union said today that they cannot afford any more cuts in the face of an $8 million cut to state revenue sharing announced today by Gov. Rick Snyder.

Mayor Dayne Walling has not announced specific cuts, but said they will be serious.

The head of the police sergeants union said it will wait and see what happens.

"I don't know how we can operate with more cuts," said Sgt. Rick Hetherington, president of the police sergeants union. "We are down to the bare bones."

The city will see about 50 percent of what it received in state revenue sharing last year, officials said.

Earlier this week, the city learned the state delayed its decision on a request for a $20 million bond.

"It's like a one-two punch," said Officer Brian Burdy, vice president of the police officers union. "We just can't take any more cuts. We've made more than anyone could ever dream of."

Firefighters union president Raul Garcia questions why the city would need to make any more cuts because it has the federal grant paying for nearly 40 firefighters. The city could lose that grant if it falls under the staffing threshold, Garcia said.